Randy Beren of Scottsdale, Ariz., unearthed this ’Cuda. He had heard rumors of a Hemi ’Cuda squirreled away in his general vicinity. With Scottsdale being the home of big auctions, Beren knew it wasn’t wise to spread rumors by asking lots of questions. So, he quietly set off on a bicycle to search for the car. Besides getting some exercise, he was able to slip through small streets and back alleys on his bike.
He found the ’Cuda he had heard about in only a few days of pedaling. The car was hidden from view under a carport and anyone passing by in a car, even at a slow speed, would probably have missed the car. Because he was riding his bike, Beren spotted the ’Cuda.
Amazingly, it was not only a ’Cuda, but a Hemi ’Cuda with 43,000 miles. The car had no serious rust problems, but the desert climate had taken its toll after two decades of storage. The interior was completely dried out and most fabric and vinyl rotten. The sun-baked finish was chalky and virtually colorless. Yet, the car was complete down to its Shaker scoop and performance hood, and best of all, it was restorable.
The man who owned the car said that it had been a locally owned vehicle that never saw long-distance driving. He had originally purchased it as a project car that he intended to restore when time and money permitted. As often happens, the car sat and sat waiting for the work to start. Somehow, the job was never started and the man told Beren he would be happy to sell the car.
Beren bought the car and soon had the long-stalled restoration under way. He was amazed to learn the car required no body panel replacements or serious metal work. It was a virtually unmolested and solid Hemi ’Cuda. The factory exhaust manifolds — usually replaced immediately with headers — were still bolted onto the monster engine
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